Beachfront school at Snells faces closure over funding

Nikau School founder Joy Leigh, left, and teacher Anuradha Parthiban, who moved from India for her job, but will have to return in July due to the school’s uncertain future. Mahurangi’s only Montessori primary school is in danger of closing its doors two years after opening in the former Bayside Bistro building at Snells Beach. Nikau School founder Joy Leigh says she’s run out of options to try to get funding support so its $3700 a term fees can be cut and the school made more accessible, but criteria are virtually impossible to meet. “We went through the charter school process, were told the ...